plantigrade

American  

[plan-ti-greyd] / ˈplæn tɪˌgreɪd /

adjective

1. walking on the whole sole of the foot, as humans and bears.

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noun

1. a plantigrade animal.

plantigrade British  

/ ˈplæntɪˌɡreɪd /

adjective

1. walking with the entire sole of the foot touching the ground, as, for example, man and bears

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noun

1. a plantigrade animal

plantigrade Scientific  

/ plăn′tĭ-grād′ /

1. Walking with the entire sole of the foot on the ground, as humans, bears, raccoons, and rabbits.

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Other Word Forms

• subplantigrade
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of plantigrade

First recorded in 1825–35; from French plantigrade (noun), from New Latin plantigradus, equivalent to Latin plant(a) “sole of the foot” + -i- + -gradus; see -i-, -grade

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

plantigrade

The plantigrade pentadactyl foot of the primitive Ungulate—and even the perissodactyl foot that succeeded it—both belong to the past humid period of the world’s history.

From Darwin, and After Darwin (Vol. 1 and 3, of 3) An Exposition of the Darwinian Theory and a Discussion of Post-Darwinian Questions by Romanes, George John

Plantigrade, plant′i-grād, adj. that walks on the sole of the foot.—n. a plantigrade animal, as the bear.—adj.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 3 of 4: N-R) by Various

I now remembered that the porcupine was one of the plantigrade family, with five toes on his hind feet, and only four on the fore ones.

From The Desert Home The Adventures of a Lost Family in the Wilderness by Reid, Mayne

His hind feet are plantigrade, that is, they rest upon the ground from heel to toe; and his back curves like the segment of a circle.

From Popular Adventure Tales by Reid, Mayne

Therefore I need not say anything more about the plantigrade division.

From Darwin, and After Darwin (Vol. 1 and 3, of 3) An Exposition of the Darwinian Theory and a Discussion of Post-Darwinian Questions by Romanes, George John